Wet surfaces are excellent conductors, even turning off a light switch with wet hands can be enough to interrupt the circuit and send an electrical current through your body. With this in mind, it follows that the risk of electrical injury increases exponentially near a water source. Coincidentally, areas in your home with water and electricity need special considerations to reduce that risk. This week we are going to talk about one of those areas: your bathroom. Here are some tips on how to maintain electrical safety in one of the most private rooms in your home.
Ensure All Outlets are GFCI.
According to the Canadian Electrical Code, GFCI outlets must be installed on any receptacles within 1.5 meters of a sink. The average bathroom is only 3.7 square meters and outlets are typically placed by the sink and counter anyways, so you can guarantee that any outlet in there will need to be GFCI equipped.
Reduce Clutter.
Once your bathroom is up to code, there are a few other precautions you will need to take. The first is to reduce the amount of wired appliances you bring into the bathroom. The more cords you have, the higher your risk of electrical injury or damage. Not only may they get wet, but possibly damaged and therefore dangerous. If you’re planning on blow drying your hair and straightening it, only plug in one device at a time and for goodness sake, leave your phone to charge in the bedroom.
Unplug When You’re Done.
In addition to reducing the number of electronics you bring into the bathroom, always unplug when you are finished using them. Even if a device has an “off” button, leaving it plugged in will leach electricity and create potential for a current. This could make way for the plug to spark or even start a fire. For those times you need to wait for a styling tool to heat up, don’t leave the bathroom while it’s plugged in.
Once you’ve followed all these tips, take care to spot check your bathroom for electrical hazards whenever you’re in there. Outlets that are discoloured, smell burnt, or sparking are an obvious sign of damage. Likewise, frayed or damaged cords should be replaced upon discovery. Your bathroom should be your safe haven, not a time bomb for electrocution or shock. If you want the experts to assess the electrical hazards in your bathroom, contact our team at 4-Star Electric today!